Roll paper feeding device and photo printer

ABSTRACT

A roll paper feeding device includes a paper feed roller, a flange holder, a flange pressing portion, a roll paper pressing lever, a housing containing these components therein, and a cover arranged above the housing. The flange holder has a recess having wide opening at an upper surface, and a shaft of the flange axially supporting the roll paper is placed in the recess. The flange pressing portion is provided on the cover, and when the cover is open, the flange pressing portion is moved toward the center of rotation of the cover, by means of a rotating member, a base member and a spring. Consequently, the flange supporting the roll paper on its shaft can easily be set in the flange holder.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a photo printer in which animage is thermally formed on a sheet of roll paper and the image isfixed by irradiation with light of a prescribed wavelength. Morespecifically, the present invention relates to a roll paper feedingdevice of the photo printer.

[0003] 2. Description of the Background Art

[0004]FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the photo printer.

[0005] The photo printer employing roll paper includes a roll paperfeeding device 1 holding and feeding the roll paper, an image formingdevice 11 forming an image by heating a sheet of roll paper 100 fed fromroll paper feeding device 1 at a prescribed temperature, an image fixingdevice 12 irradiating the sheet of roll paper on which the image hasbeen formed with ultraviolet ray to fix the image, and a cutting device13 cutting the sheet of roll paper on which the image has been fixed toa prescribes size to finish a photograph. In such a photo printer, rollpaper is consumed as photographs are printed, and the diameter of theroll becomes smaller. Therefore, the roll paper feeding device of aconventional photo printer has such a structure as shown in FIG. 4.

[0006]FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram representing the structure of theconventional roll paper feeding device.

[0007] As shown in FIG. 4, the conventional roll paper feeding device 1includes a paper feed roller 4, a flange holder 5, a flange pressinglever 6, a roll paper pressing lever 7, a housing 2 containing thesecomponents therein, and a cover 3 arranged at an upper portion ofhousing 2. Cover 3 is opened and closed by rotation.

[0008] Flange holder 5 has an L-shaped slit 51, and holds a flange 101axially supporting roll paper 100, with a shaft 102 of flange 101supporting roll paper 100 inserted through L-shaped slit 51. Shaft 102is pressed toward paper feed roller 4 by flange pressing lever 6, sothat a force in a direction to paper feed roller 4 is exerted on flange101, and roll paper 100 comes to be in contact with paper feed roller 4.Further, as there is a projection 52 formed along the L-shaped slit 51of flange holder 5, shaft 102 abuts projection 52 when pressed by flangepressing lever 6, and therefore, the shaft can be held at a prescribedposition and not raised from the holding position.

[0009] Other photo printers have been proposed that include such a rollpaper feeding device holding the roll paper at a prescribed position(for example, in Japanese Patent Laying-Open Nos. 11-43245 and58-139950).

[0010] In the conventional photo printer such as shown in FIG. 4,however, when roll paper 100 is to be loaded to roll paper feedingdevice 1, that is, when flange 101 supporting roll paper 100 on itsshaft is to be set on flange holder 5, it is difficult to insert shaft102 to the L-shaped slit 51, as the opening for inserting shaft 102 offlange 101 to the L-shaped slit 51 is narrow. Further, as flangepressing lever 6 is always urged by a spring to the side of paper feedroller, the lever is moved to the position of L-shaped slit 51 whenflange 101 is not loaded. Therefore, it is necessary for a user to pressflange pressing lever 6 away from the position of L-shaped slit 51 (to aposition near the inner surface of housing 2) with one hand and to putflange 101 into L-shaped slit 51 with the other hand. Thus, loading ofthe roll paper has been much troublesome for the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] An object of the present invention is to provide a photo printerallowing easy loading of the roll paper.

[0012] The present invention provides a roll paper feeding device with aroll paper supporter axially supporting the roll paper, in which theroll paper is held at a prescribed position and brought into contactwith a paper feed roller for feeding, including: a holding portionholding from below opposite ends of the roll paper supporter, having anupwardly opened recess of a length at least longer than the range ofmovement of the roll paper supporter; and a pressing portion pressingthe roll paper supporter onto the holding portion.

[0013] In this arrangement, the roll paper supporter is placed in theupwardly opened recess having a length at least longer than the range ofmovement of the roll paper supporter, and the roll paper supporterplaced in the recess is pressed by the pressing portion, so that theroll paper is held and brought into contact with the paper feed roller.The roll paper supporter is simply placed in the recess, and therefore,it is horizontally movable within the range of the recess. The pressingportion continuously presses the roll paper supporter, so that the rollpaper supporter can be retained movably.

[0014] Further, in the present invention, the roll paper supporter ispressed from above and from the side opposite to the paper feed roller,by the pressing portion.

[0015] Because of this arrangement, the roll paper supporter is pressedfrom above by the pressing portion, and therefore, the holding portionreceives the pressed roll paper supporter at the bottom of the recess.Therefore, a member such as the projection of the conventional structurethat regulates direction of movement of the roll paper supporter becomesunnecessary. Further, as it is pressed from the side opposite to thepaper feed roller, the roll paper supporter moves toward the paper feedroller and is continuously kept in contact with the paper feed roller,even when the roll diameter becomes smaller.

[0016] In the present invention, the pressing portion is provided on thecover, covering the roll paper from above.

[0017] In this arrangement, as the pressing portion is provided on thecover arranged above the roll paper, the mechanism for pressing the rollpaper supporter from above is simplified, and therefore, the pressingportion can be formed in a simple structure. Further, when the rollpaper is loaded to the roll paper feeding device, the pressing portionmoves away from the holding portion together with the cover, enablingeasy loading.

[0018] The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantagesof the present invention will become more apparent from the followingdetailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of the rollpaper feeding device (with the cover closed) of a photo printer inaccordance with the present invention.

[0020]FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of the rollpaper feeding device (with the cover opened) of a photo printer inaccordance with the present invention.

[0021]FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the photo printer.

[0022]FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a rollpaper feeding device of a conventional photo printer.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] A photo printer including the roll paper feeding device inaccordance with an embodiment will be described with reference to thefigures.

[0024]FIGS. 1 and 2 are schematic diagrams showing the structure of theroll paper feeding device of a photo printer in accordance with thepresent embodiment, with the cover closed in FIG. 1 and opened in FIG.2.

[0025] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a roll paper feeding device 1 inaccordance with the present embodiment includes a paper feed roller 4, aflange holder 5 corresponding to the holding portion of the invention, aflange pressing portion 8 corresponding to the pressing portion of theinvention, a roll paper pressing lever 7, a housing 2 containing thesecomponents therein, and a cover 3 arranged at an upper portion of thehousing.

[0026] Roll paper 100 is axially supported by a flange 101 thatcorresponds to the roll paper supporter of the present invention. Flange101 has disk shaped side surfaces to be in contact with opposite ends ofthe roll paper in the width direction and has a shaft 102 to be insertedthrough the core of roll paper 100.

[0027] Flange holder 5 is arranged at a position receiving shaft 102protruding from opposite ends of flange 101. Flangeholder 5 has, at anupper end, an upwardly opened recess 50 of a prescribed depth and of alength at least longer than the range of movement of the shaft 102 offlange 101. The shaft 102 of flange 101 is placed in recess 50.

[0028] A flange pressing member supporting portion 31 is formed on cover3, and flange pressing member supporting portion 31 has a through slit32 of which axis extends in a direction approximately parallel to thebottom surface of recess 50 when cover 3 is closed.

[0029] Flange pressing portion 8 includes a flange pressing member 80, aspring 81 exerting an urging force to flange pressing member 80, and abase member 82. When cover 3 is rotated and opened or closed, a rotatingmember 21 provided on housing 2 rotates correspondingly. Rotating member21 is connected to base member 82, and as rotating member 21 rotates,base member 82 moves toward the center of rotation of cover 3, along thethrough slit 32. As base member 82 moves, spring 81 and flange pressingmember 80 that are connected thereto also move along the through slit32. Therefore, when cover 3 is open, flange pressing member 80 is heldat a position close to the center of rotation of cover 3. When cover 3is closed, contrary to the state when cover 3 is open, flange pressingmember 80 moves in a direction away from the center of rotation of cover3. Flange pressing member 80 comes to be in contact with shaft 102 offlange 101 at a prescribed position, as it moves. When in contact withshaft 102, flange pressing member 80 receives pressing force from shaft102, and presses spring 81. Here, base member 82 is fixed by means ofrotating member 21, and therefore, a force in a direction to compressspring 81 is applied, and as a reaction, a force urging flange pressingmember 80 to move to the direction of shaft 102 is applied. By thisurging force, flange pressing member 80 presses shaft 102 from above andfrom the side, whereby flange 101 having shaft 102 receives the forceand is moved in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 1, and rollpaper 100 comes into contact with paper feed roller 4.

[0030] Next, an operation of loading roll paper 100 and printing, usingthe photo printer having the above-described structure will bedescribed.

[0031] A user sets roll paper 100 on flange 101, and opens cover 3 ofroll paper feeding device 1. Then, the user puts flange 101 axiallysupporting roll paper 100 into roll paper feeding device 1, such thatshaft 102 is placed in recess 50 of flange holder 5. As flange holder 5,on which flange 101 is to be placed, has recess 50 with wide opening, itis possible for the user to easily set the flange 101.

[0032] In this state, flange pressing portion 8 is away from flangeholder 5 as cover 3 has been rotated, as shown in FIG. 2. Therefore,different from the prior art, it becomes unnecessary for the user to setflange 101 while moving flange pressing portion 8 with one hand. Thus,the user can very easily set the flange 101.

[0033] Further, when flange 101 is set, roll paper pressing lever 7comes into contact with roll paper 100, and therefore, even when theuser releases his/her hold of roll paper 100, roll paper 100 will notget loose. Roll paper pressing lever 7 has such a structure thatcontinuously applies urging force in the direction of roll paper 100 bymeans of a spring or the like, and therefore, even when roll paper 100is used continuously and comes to have smaller diameter, the lever keepspressing roll paper 100 constantly.

[0034] When the user closes cover 3, flange pressing member 80 moves inresponse, and comes to be in contact with shaft 102 of flange 101 fromabove and from one side. At this time, as flange pressing member 80 isreceiving the urging force from spring 81 as described above, flangepressing member 80 presses shaft 102 of flange 101 from above and fromthe side. Thus, flange 101 moves toward paper feed roller 4, and rollpaper 100 is brought into contact with roller 4. As roll paper 100 is incontact with paper feed roller 4, roll paper 100 can surely be fed whenpaper feed roller 4 is rotated.

[0035] The fed roll paper is heated in a prescribed pattern at an imageforming device so that an image is formed thereon, and then irradiatedwith ultraviolet ray at an image fixing device so that the image isfixed. The roll paper with the image fixed is cut into a prescribedsize, and provided as one photograph (as shown in FIG. 3).

[0036] By forming the roll paper feeding device of the photo printer insuch a structure, it becomes possible for the user to easily set aflange axially supporting the roll paper in the roll paper feedingdevice.

[0037] In the present invention, the flange holder holding the flangeaxially supporting the roll paper is provided with a recess with wideopening at an upper end, and the flange is placed in the recess, wherebythe flange, and hence the roll paper, can be loaded easily.

[0038] Further, in the present invention, the flange pressing portion isprovided on the cover, and therefore, when the cover is opened to loadthe flange, the flange pressing portion moves away from the flangeholder as the cover rotates, whereby the flange pressing portion doesnot interfere with the operation of setting the flange in the flangeholder. Therefore, loading of the roll paper is further facilitated.

[0039] Although the present invention has been described and illustratedin detail, it is clearly understood that the same is by way ofillustration and example only and is not to be taken by way oflimitation, the spirit and scope of the present invention being limitedonly by the terms of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A photo printer, comprising: a roll paper supporter axially supporting roll paper; a roll paper feeding device holding the roll paper supporter at a prescribed position and bringing the roll paper into contact with a paper feed roller for feeding; an image forming device forming an image by heating the roll paper fed from the roll paper feeding device; and an image fixing device fixing said image by irradiating with light the roll paper on which the image has been formed by the image forming device; wherein said roll paper feeding device includes a holding portion holding from below opposite ends of said roll paper supporter and having an upwardly opening recess of a length at least longer than a range of movement of said roll paper supporter, and a pressing portion provided on a cover of said roll paper feeding device, pressing said roll paper supporter onto said holding portion from above and from a side opposite to said paper feed roller.
 2. A roll paper feeding device including a roll paper supporter axially supporting the roll paper, and holding the roll paper supporter at a prescribed position and bringing the roll paper into contact with a paper feed roller for feeding, comprising: a holding portion holding from below opposite ends of said roll paper supporter and having an upwardly opening recess of a length at least longer than a range of movement of said roll paper supporter; and a pressing portion pressing said roll paper supporter onto said holding portion.
 3. The roll paper feeding device according to claim 2, wherein said pressing portion presses said roll paper supporter onto said holding portion from above and from a side opposite to said paper feed roller.
 4. The roll paper feeding device according to claim 2, wherein said pressing portion is provided on a cover covering said roll paper from above. 